BittyMooPeeb

The new owners dont know yet as I've only just found out today. Before I talk to them I want to decide whether I should hold on to Rupert for a bit longer and get the hip dysplasia diagnosis done. The vet said that he could just be sore from being poked around too, which is why I'm looking into how likely it is that he has this. The new owners will be told regardless- my question is whether it is likely enough and would effect his life to an extent that I'd pay for the test rather than leave it to the new owner, and whether he will therefore be delayed going to his new home - 3 very excited children will be sorely disappointed! ;) As he is a rescue dog we dont know if he came from a registered breeder, or even if he is a pure-bred shih-tzu. This is what his original microchip details described him as, but if he came from a pet shop, who knows. Rupert has survived the neglect of his first year of life, coming out of it with such a happy and positive outlook on life, so I want to make sure that his future is as good as possible and pain free. I'm just wary of paying for unnecessary tests. I spent $1400 on tests a couple of weeks ago for my cat and the results were .... inconclusive

I dont know anything about the Dodge v Rockey Tribunal Hearing - can someone point me to some info?? Is a dog owner suing a foster carer? ;)

Ooooooh farting .... I wish mine just farted .... Peebs does the 'I think I'll empty my anal glands now onto your lap' thing whenever I get the brush out ;) Eeeeuuuuuwwwwwww

My little shih-tzu foster Rupert had a vet check today and the vet thought his hips were sore and said this may indicate hip dysplasia. Other foster carers think that this is unlikely given his size (3kg) and age (12mnths). Diagnosis for hip dysplasia involves sedation and an x-ray (ie $$$) so I was wondering how likely it is that this is the cause of his hip pain. Do any DOLers know of v.small and young dogs developing this? ;) The vet didn't offer an alternative cause of his hip pain - so if it's not hip dysplasia, what could it be??? He's due to go to his forever home on Thursday so I need to decide what to do .... :fetch: ps in case it makes a difference, he was diagnosed with a luxated patella (sp) today too in just one rear leg.

I've just had a look at the ingredients list for eagle pack fish and oatmeal and am impressed. Now for the hard bit - does anyone know where you can get it in Canberra?

Thanks all for your feedback. I guess I can stop feeling like a bad mother now! Peebs will be glad too - because of the grass eating I was worried his dinners didn't contain enough 'greens' so in the last batch I added an entire bunch of spinach: his face said it all ... The little girls next door pick bunches of grass to feed him through the fence so I guess they will be happy too!

My dog eats grass, and I cant work out why (ie is his diet deficient?). His diet is: Morning: chicken neck or lamb bone Evening: 'Mix' that I make consiting basically of minced chicken carcass, juiced fruit and pulp, parsely or spinach chopped, pumpkin, honey, wheatgerm. Snacks: the cats dry food - science diet adult (I know ... but he will only eat dry food out of the cats bowls) He is quite persistent when eating grass and can pause for 10 minutes during a walk to eat the blades of grass from a desirable clump. He will even go out in the wet to eat grass if he wants it, so I assume his need is real. Does anyone have any ideas?